| Sneaky: I try to find improvements in White's attack after 10...Qf6 but it's almost impossible. The problem I keep butting into is that White's queenside isn't developed, and so there can only be one rook in the action until White takes time out for a move like Nd2 or Na3. Just for fun, I analyzed a mythical position which had the White knight on a3:  click for larger viewNow the game might go 1.Bb5 Bd7 2.e6 fxe6 3.Bxc7 (this is not done out of greed--white must prevent castling!) Nf6 4.Rad1 and suddenly I like White! It's very hard to find moves for Black here (e.g. ...Rf8? Bd6). The game might go on 4...e5 5.Nc4 e4 6.Qe3  click for larger viewNow White's is still down a piece, but his compensation has materialized: d6 is a very sore spot for Black, the White rooks are beating down on his position, castling is painful (due to Bd6), and Black's rooks are out of play. The moral of this story is a good rule of thumb for beginners: "Don't attack until your queen's rook is ready to enter the action." By those standards the entire Muzio-gambit concept is bankrupt. |